Dianella plant named ‘TAS100’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dianella  plant named ‘TAS100’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly arching plant habit; moderately dense growth habit; numerous linear leaves arranged in a basal rosette; variegated green and creamy white-colored leaves; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianella tasmanica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TAS100’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianellaplant, botanically known as Dianella tasmanica, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘TAS100’.

The new Dianella is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of anunnamed selection of Dianella tasmanica, not patented. The new Dianellawas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant fromwithin a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlledenvironment in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in January, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dianella by micropropagation in Sydney,New South Wales, Australia since February, 2005, has shown that theunique features of this new Dianella are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar TAS100 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘TAS100’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘TAS100’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofDianella:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly arching plant habit.    -   2. Moderately dense growth habit.    -   3. Numerous linear leaves arranged in a basal rosette.    -   4. Variegated green and creamy white-colored leaves.    -   5. Good garden performance.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sydney, New South Wales,Australia, plants of the new Dianella differed from plants of the parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dianella were more compact than plants of        the parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Dianella were more dense than plants of the        parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Dianella had broader creamy        white-colored longitudinal stripes than leaves of plants of the        parent selection.

Plants of the new Dianella can be compared to plants of the Dianellacultivar Sougold, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,705. Plants of thenew Dianella differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Sougold infoliage coloration as plants of the cultivar Sougold have green andgold-colored variegated foliage.

Plants of the new Dianella can be compared to plants of the Dianellacultivar Splice, not patented. Plants of the new Dianella differprimarily from plants of the cultivar Splice in foliage coloration asplants of the cultivar Splice have green and yellow-colored variegatedfoliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Dianella. This photograph shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Dianella. The photograph comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical ten-month old plant of ‘TAS100’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotograph and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia during the summer in anoutdoor nursery and under conditions and practices which approximatethose generally used in commercial Dianella production. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages for typical ten-month old plantsgrown in containers and in ground beds.

-   Botanical classification: Dianella tasmanica cultivar TAS100.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed    selection of Dianella tasmanica, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By micropropagation.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/growth habit.—Compact, upright and outwardly            arching plant habit; moderately dense growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 40 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 40 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Two-ranked, simple.        -   Length.—About 40 cm.        -   Width.—About 5 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Tapering to a point.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright then outwardly arching with            development.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            Green ground color, close to 147B; parallel creamy white            longitudinal stripes, ranging from close to 11D to close to            158D; stripes irregular in width. Developing and fully            expanded foliage, lower surface: Green ground color, close            to 147B; parallel creamy white longitudinal stripes, ranging            from close to 11D to close to 158D; stripes irregular in            width. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Similar to lamina            coloration.-   Flower description: Inflorescence and flower development has not    been observed on plants of the new Dianella. Plants of the new    Dianella do not develop flowers.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Dianella have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dianella.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dianella have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 43° C.

1. A new and distinct Dianella plant named ‘TAS100’ as illustrated anddescribed.